How do I get government information?

Search the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) website to see if the government information is already available.
Contact SESLHD and ask for the government information. SESLHD will decide whether the information you want:
- Is open access, or mandatory release information that is readily available. If it is, they will tell you where and how you can get the information.
- Should be made available as part of a proactive release of information.
- Can be disclosed to you through informal release, for example where no third party personal information is involved.
- Requires a formal access application, for example because consultation with a third party is required.

Note: SESLHD must generally disclose information in response to a valid formal access application for information that is held by SESLHD and not otherwise available to the applicant. SESLHD can refuse a request for information if there is an Overriding Public Interest Against Disclosure (OPIAD) or if searching for the requested information would require unreasonable and substantial diversion of SESLHD's resources.

How to lodge an application under the Government Information (Public Access) Act

An access application must:

Be in writing.
Clearly state that the request is made under the GIPA Act.
Be accompanied by payment of the prescribed application fee (see Fees and charges).
Provide sufficient information about the document so that SESLHD can identify the document. For example, a reference number, document type, date it was produced.
State the address to which notices under the GIPA Act may be sent to the applicant.
If the application is being made on behalf of the applicant, the names of both the applicant and the applicant’s agent should be stated and evidence of the agent’s authorisation should also be included.

An access application where the documents sought are considered “personal” in nature must:

Be in writing.
Clearly state that the request is made under the GIPA Act.
Be accompanied by payment of the prescribed application fee. (See Fees and charges.)
Be accompanied by evidence of identity documentation (see Evidence of Identity below).
If the application is being made on behalf of the applicant, evidence of identity documentation for the agent (that is, the person acting for the applicant) must also be supplied.
Provide sufficient information about the document so that SESLHD can identify the document. For example, a reference number, document type, date it was produced.
State the address to which notices under the GIPA Act may be sent to the applicant.
If the application is being made on behalf of the applicant, the names of both the applicant and the applicant’s agent should be stated and evidence of the agent’s authorisation should also be included.

GIPA Application Form for SESLHD

Evidence of Identity

Under section 55 (5) of the GIPA Act, SESLHD may require the applicant to provide evidence of identity. A copy of one of the items listed below should be forwarded with any personal applications.

A passport;
A copy of a certificate or extract from a register of births;
A driver's licence; or
A statutory declaration from an individual who has known the person for at least one year; or if the person is a prisoner within the meaning of the Corrective Services Act 2006, a copy of the person’s identity card from the department administering that Act, duly certified by a corrective services officer within the meaning of that Act.

What happens next?

Once SESLHD receives an access application, a Right to Information Officer will review it to make sure that the correct mechanism has been utilised, that all the necessary information and payment (if required) has been included and that the documents sought have been clearly identified.

For access applications the GIPA Act provides an initial time limit of 20 working days from the date of receipt of the application for completing the processing of an application. Please note that the timeframe may be extended if the application is subject to certain clock stopping provisions within the GIPA Act.

If an applicant is not satisfied with the outcome of their application, they may apply for a review of the decision.